38 
LABORATORY EXERCISES 
the health charts are being kept. If possible find some reference 
in your text which bears upon each. Paste the clippings upon 
binder paper such as is used in your laboratory note book. At the 
side of each clipping copy the reference from the text book and 
give the page on which it is found. 
3. A. Make a collection of advertisements of patent medi¬ 
cines ” for colds and respiratory troubles as you find them in 
newspapers, periodicals, etc., and of labels and wrappings from 
bottles containing such nostrums. Sort these clippings and labels 
into the following groups: 
a. So-called cure-alls.’’ 
h. Advertisements in which no statements of a definite nature 
are made. 
c. Advertisements which contain definite statements regarding 
specific diseases. 
d. Advertisements advising not only the use of the nostrum 
but also some other treatment such as massage or the assistance 
of a physician. Mount these labels and clippings in the same way 
as you did those referring to health conditions. If Volumes I and 
II of Nostrums and Quackery, published by the American Medical 
Association, are available, find references to as many as possible 
of the nostrums for which you have advertisements. Make a 
note of the findings regarding such nostrums. 
B. Make a comparison of well known periodicals and of news¬ 
papers with regard to the number and types of ‘‘ patent medicines ” 
advertising in each. Determine what factors are responsible for 
the differences which you discover. 
C. Secure a copy of the Pure Food and Drugs Act ” and copy 
those clauses in it which refer to the regulation of the labeling of 
nostrums. Likewise copy those parts of the Postal Fraud Act ” 
which regulate in any way the use of the mail for such purposes as 
the advertisement of nostrums. Examine your labels and copies 
of advertisements to find whether either of these acts may have 
influenced their content in any way. (Copies of these acts may be 
obtained by addressing the Superintendent of Documents, 
